Distributor drive



Dec. 3, 1929. J. c. BoHMKER DISTRIBUTOR DRIVE Filed March 22, 1924 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN G. BOHMKER, OF BRADLEY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SEARS, ROEBUCK AND (30., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DISTRIBUTOR DRIVE Application filed March 22, 1924. Serial No. 701,233.

This invention relates generally to farm implements and particularly to driving mechanism for manure spreaders and the like.

The object of this invention is to provide an elhcient chain transmission from the wheels to the distributing mechanism, which is operable at will to render the power transmission to said mechanism inefiective.

Another object is to provide a cooperating chain controlling mechanism and a chain tightener to elliect a removal of the chain from its driving gear.

Still another object is to provide positive positioning means for the chain controlling mechanism.

Still another object is to provide a slack taking adjustment to compensate for small changes in the chain lengths by stretching and wear.

Still other and ancillary objects and advantages will be apparent from the particular construction hereina'tter set forth in describing one particular embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a manure spreader equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 shows the details of an eccentric sprocket mounting.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a "iew of the sprocket and its bearing removed from its mounting.

Heretofore manure spreaders have been provided with chain lifters to disengage the power transmission means, but such litters have not been positively positioned when the chain is placed in engagement with the wheels. This results in slipping of the chain under excessive power requirements with consequent wear and tear on the parts. I-Ieretofore the chain has been removed by operation of a hand lever provided with a rack and detent adapted to position the hand lever. The fixed position of the hand control determines the fixity of the chain removing member through intermediate links providing a con siderable extent of flexibility and play. It is a feature of the present invention that these disadvantages of the old construction have been eliminated.

In the drawings there is shown generally a wagon body 9 having wheels one of which, as, for example, 10, has a ring gear 11 thereon. At the rear end of the wagon is the distributing mechanism comprising a cylinder 12 axially mounted at 14: and rotatable through the sprocket gear 15. The wagon shown is a manure spreader containing a feeding conveyor and a suitable feeding mechanism, as, for example, that type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 701,232, filing date March 22, 192d, which matured on July 16, 1929, into Patent l lo. 1,720,994. A travelling chain 16 passes around the gear 15 and has external engage ment with a portion of the ring gear 11. An idler pulley 17 is suitably positioned at the side of the wagon to support the upper part of the chain. The chain is otherwise supported by a chain lifting mechanism adapted to raise and lower it with respect to the ring gear 11.

The chain raising mechanism is here shown as a pivotally movable arm 18 secured to the pivot 19 at the side of the wagon. Any suitable means for holding and strengthening the pivot may be used, as, for example, the braces 20 from one of the side stays 21 of the wagon. The end of the arm carries a sprocket wheel 22 over which is looped the chain 16. The a-rcuate notched bar 23 is located concentrieally with the pivot 20. Two notches 241 and 25 are shown therein which determine as many positions for the arm 18. For this purpose a spring detent 26 is mounted so to engage in the notches. By moving the arm 18 upwardly from the low position indicated in full lines the chain may be removed from the ring gear 11.

For the purpose of moving the arm 18 a hand lever 27 is provided, pivoted in the wagon side at 28. Rigid with the arm 18 is a right-angular portion 29 connect-ed by a compression linkage 30 to the hand lover. For the purpose of releasing the arm 18 for this motion, means is provided to withdraw the detent 26. The links 31, 32 and 33 serve this purpose. The link 31 is moved by a sleeve 43 on the stud.

hand gripped bell crank 34. Another bell crank 35 about the pivot 28 transmits motion from link 31 to link 32 and a short lever arm 36 about the pivot 19 transmits motion from link 32 to link 33, the latter link being connected to the detent 26.

In withdrawing the chain from the ring gear a slack results which frequently causes a whipping action as the wagon is driven to the field. While this is somewhat annoying, it is also productive of a strain on the parts supporting the chain. To overcome this, an auxiliary arm is provided pivoted at 38. An idler spool 39 in the extremity of the arm picks up the slack chain and tightens it as the chain is being raised. The motion of arm 37 is produced simultaneously with that of the chain raising arm by means of a link 40 from the arm 37 to the previously described linkage 29 and 30. The lower portion of the chain shown by the dotted lines 41 is shown tightened between the two idler spools 17 and 39.

Since the construction shown results in a fixed driving position for the arm 18, means is provided for adjustment for a change in the chain length due to wear and stretching. It frequently happens that the removal of one link will shorten the'chain too much and yet the presence ofthat link will make the chain too slack. Since the rear sprocket 15 is fixedly disposed and idler 17 must remain undisturbed for a given linkage system as above described, it is necessary to provide for the adjustment in the sprocket wheel 22. This has been accomplished by providing an eccentrically mounted bearing for the sprocket, the sprocket being concentrically mounted and rotatable on the bearing. In Fig. 3 the arm 18 is indicated as having a stud bearing 42 mounted thereon. The bearing is relatively large in diameter for the purpose of strengthening its mounting. The sprocket wheel 22 is arrangedas a projecting toothed flange rigid with a sleeve 43 which fits over the stud bearing42. A washer 44 provides a shoulder to retain the The face of the stud 42 which abuts .the arm 18 is provided with a stud projection 45 rigidly associated with the bearing by any suitable structure and eccentrically located thereon. The projection is shown in Fig. 3 as a circularstud which fits in a corresponding opening in the arm 18. The stud has a portion projecting beyond the arm and this is made hexagonal at 46. A bolt 47 passes through the stud bearing 42 and the'center of the eccentrically disposed projection 45' for the purpose of receiving a securing nut 48. A locking washer 49 with external flanges 5O fits over the arm 18 and is provided with a hexagonal hole to receive the hexagonal projection 46. The engagement of the hexagonal parts locks the stud projection 45, and hence thebearing'42,

to the arm 18 in any one of the six possible positions. It is obvious that this structure is not limited to a hexagon and the resulting six positions, but this is preferable since the hexagonal head 46 serves as a convenient means to turn the stud bearing 42 with an ordinary wrench without demounting it from the arm.

It is clear that the driver may start to the field with the chain and linkage in the dotted line position of Fig. 1. This provides a taut chain and positively positioned means to hold it taut. hen it is desired to effect distribution of the wagon contents, the hand lever 27 is moved rearwardly until the detent 26 engages notch 24. This action results in a removal of the chain tightener 37 and the lowering of the chain onto the driving gear 11, the chain again becoming taut in its operating position by the prior adjustment of the sprocket wheel 22 on the movable arm. It is obvious that the strain on the arm 18 is not transmitted through the links connected thereto, but is directly taken by the detent 26 and rack 23, thereby furnishing the rigidity essential to prolonged usefulness under the adverse conditions imposed on such farm vehicles.

ivhile the disclosed embodiment has been described for the purpose of illustration, it is not to be taken as a limitation of the invention short of the scope of the appended claims as construed in view of the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1.' In a chain lifting gear for distributor drives of the type including a bell crank lever operatively associated with the chain to move it, and a remote hand lever having a link connection with the bell crank; a stationary arcuate rack, a detent carried by one arm of said bell crank and normally tending to engage said rack, a second bell crank pivoted coaxially of said hand lever, means includ ing a link connecting the second bell crank to said detent, and a handle associated with said hand lever having a link connection with the second bell crank.

2. In a chain lifting gear for distributor drives of the type including a bell crank lever operatively associated with the chain to move it, and a remote hand lever having a link connection with the bell crank; means mounted on the bell crank lever and operable to releasably lock said lever in either operative or inoperative position, and means associated with the hand lever for controlling said looking means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

JOHN C. BOHMKER. 

